How to add a contact in Microsoft Outlook

Updated: 10/11/2021 by Computer Hope
Microsoft Outlook logo

The steps to add a contact in Microsoft Outlook depends on the version of Outlook you use. Follow the steps below for the version of Outlook on your computer, including the Outlook.com online e-mail service.

Outlook.com (online e-mail service)

  1. When logged in to your Outlook.com e-mail account, click the down arrow next to the Outlook logo and name in the upper-left corner.
  2. Click the People option.
  3. Click the New option to add a new contact.
  4. Enter all the contact's details.
  5. Click Save to save the new contact.

Microsoft Outlook 2013 and later

  1. With Microsoft Outlook open, click the People option in the strip at the bottom-left of the screen.
  2. Under the Home tab in the Ribbon, click the New Contact option in the "New" section at the top-left.
  3. Enter all the contact's details.
  4. If you need to save the newly entered contact and add another contact, click the Save & New option. If you only need to create the newly entered contact, click the Save & Close option.
Tip

You can also add a contact by opening an incoming e-mail message, right-click the name of the person you want to create a contact for, and select Add to Outlook Contacts.

Microsoft Outlook 2007 and 2010

  1. With Microsoft Outlook open, click the Contacts option at the bottom of the left navigation pane.
  2. Under the Home tab in the Ribbon, click the New Contact option in the "New" section at the top-left.
  3. Enter all the contact's details.
  4. If you need to save the newly entered contact and add another contact, click the Save & New option. If you only need to create the newly entered contact, click the Save & Close option.
Tip

You can also add a new contact by opening an incoming e-mail message, right-click the name of the person you want to create a contact for, and select Add to Outlook Contacts.

Microsoft Outlook 2003

  1. With Microsoft Outlook open, click the Contacts option at the bottom of the left navigation pane.
  2. In the menu at the top of the window, click File and select the New option. You can also click the New option in the toolbar at the top.
  3. Enter all the contact's details.
  4. If you need to save the newly entered contact and add another contact, click the Save & New icon. If you only need to create the newly entered contact, click the Save & Close option.
Tip

You can also add a new contact by opening an incoming e-mail message, right-click the name of the person you want to create a contact for, and select Add to Contacts.

Benefits of adding contacts

Saving contacts increases your productivity in Microsoft Outlook. Below are examples of the added utility contacts bring.

  • You no longer need to remember someone's e-mail address; knowing their name will suffice. Typing a name in an e-mail brings up the contact for the user, and send the e-mail to the user's primary e-mail address. You can also press Ctrl+K while typing to have the name autocomplete.
  • If you create groups of contacts, you may e-mail multiple people at once. For example, you could create a group of your family contacts and type "Family" in the e-mail to e-mail all your family members. Groups are created in the Address Book section.
  • Setup rules through the Microsoft Rules Wizard to perform certain tasks when receiving an e-mail from a particular user. For example, if you have an important contact, you could create a rule to alert you any time an e-mail comes from them.